Rotary block tic-tac-toe board and projectiles

ABSTRACT

Game apparatus for playing a variant of tic-tac-toe including a frame member supporting a plurality of triangularly shaped blocks having scoring indicia on at least one face thereof. The blocks are pivotally supported in the frame in a manner such that in a rest position, only one face of each block is exposed to view. Projectile means are provided for throwing at any one of the blocks for turning the block and exposing a different block face to view.

United States Patent 285,396 9/1883 Windt Marvin I. Glass; Burton C. Meyer, both of Chicago, Ill. 807,526 Mar. 17, 1969 Aug. 17, 1971 Marvln Glass and Associates (lllrakm lll.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assiguee ROTARY BLOCK TlC-TAC-TOE BOARD AND PROJECTILES 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl I 273/95 R, 273/130 B, 273/102, 273/102.1 01

' ,Int. Cl A63b 63/04 Field of Search 273/102, .102 AP, 100, 130, 130 B, 130C References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,628,838 2/1953 Smalley 273/130 (B) 3,410,01] 11/1968 Bowman 273/130(B) FORElGN PATENTS 137,l70 H1920 Great Britain 273/l00 Primary Examiner- Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ljxmniner Marvin Siskind Allumeys-Jumes F. Coffee and Gerald M. Newman ROTARY BLOCK 'llIC-TAC-TOE BOARD AND PROJECTIILES This invention relates in general to games. In particular, this invention is directed to game apparatus for use in playing a variant of the game of tic-tac-toe. In using the game apparatus of theinvention, the well known game of tic-tac-toe becomes a game of athletic skill as well as game strategy.

Various apparatus for the play of the game of tic-tac-toe is known in the prior art. For instance, US. Pat. No. 2,628,838, issued Feb. 17, 1953, to D. F. Smalley and now assigned to the assignee of the subject application, teaches tic-tac-toe game apparatus comprising a number of triangularly shaped blocks which are rotatably mounted in a frame.

This invention provides apparatus for use in playing a variant of the game tic-tac-toe wherein throwing skill in addition to game strategy is required. The game apparatus includes a frame pivotally supporting a number of triangularly shaped blocks which are capable of being turned upon being struck by a thrown projectile. Each of the blocks comprise three faces, two of which respectively bear an X and an The game projectiles may comprise fabric bags containing pelletlike material, simulating bean bags.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide game apparatus for use in a variant of the game of tic-tac tO.

Another object of this invention is to provide game apparatus for use in playing the game of tic-tac-toe, wherein throwing skill as well as game strategy are required to complete a proper indicia sequence.

It is also an object of this invention to provide game apparatus for use in playing a variant of the game of tic;tac-toe which is particularly adapted for use outdoors as a form of lawn or patio recreation.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide game apparatus for use in playing a variant of the game of tic-tac-toe, wherein opposing game players may play in an offensive as well as a defensive manner. In playing defensively, a game player may cancel an opponent's previously placed scoring indicia and possibly even replace it with a scoring indicia favorable to himself. I

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent to those versed in the game art upon an understanding of the following detailed description of the game apparatus taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the apparatus is shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an perspective view of the gameapparatus of the invention, including a frame l0 pivotally carrying a number of blocks l2, and a plurality of projectiles M for use in tufi'llng the blocks;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the frame and two blocks, taken generally along section lifie 2-2 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view ofithe frame and blocks taken along offset section line 3-3 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a block 12.

Turning now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the game apparatus generally comprises a frame pivotally supporting a number of blocks 12 having scoring indicia on various faces thereof suitable for use in playing the game of tic-tac-to'e. The game apparatus also includes a plurality of projectiles 14 which may be thrown or otherwise launched at particular blocks for turning the blocks and exposing a face bearing a desired scoring indicia. v

Referring also to FIGS. 2 and 3, frame to coriiprises,four side walls 16 which are joined to form a square shape. Support legs lll are provided at the corner intersections of the walls to support the apparatus on a flat surface 29 such as a floor, lawn or patio. The frame forms a cavity 20 and includes a plurality of shallow partitions 22 which are carried by the walls and arranged in a crisscross manner. The partitions have an exposed upper surface 24 which establishes a grid forming a number of square openings 26. In the described embodiment, for use in playing the game of tic-tac-toe, the grid defines nine openings 26 which are arranged in three rows with each row comprising three columns. While the described embodiment employs nine openings for receipt of nine blocks, other embodiments employing varying numbers of openings for use with games incorporating picture puzzles or the like, may be used without departing from the concept of the invention.

Construction of the entire frame, as well as the blocks and their pivotal supports described in detail below, is sufficiently sturdy to withstand the shock of numerous projectiles 14 being thrown thereat during the game play. Also, the frame and blocks are desirably of substantial size, so that a player positioned a substantial distance away from the frame may throw a projectile at a particular location on a block for pivoting that block in a desired direction. Due to the size and construction of the game apparatus, it may be used in a large room, or outdoors on the lawn or patio.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 each block 12 is triangularly shaped and has three flat faces 30, 32 and 34. Face 30 bears a cipher or 0" scoring indicia 31, face 32 bears a cross or X scoring indicia 33, and face 34 is blank except for a small dot 36 and a cross 38 which are disposed at opposite edges in a manner so as to denote in which direction the block must be turned to reveal the 0" and X" scoring indicia, respectively. The faces of each block are joined to form an equilateral triangle in cross section and the edges 40 thereof are generally parallel.

Each block includes two end walls 42 disposed slightly inwardly of edges 40. Aligned, triangularly shaped bearings 44 are formed generally centrally of each end wall and extend outwardly beyond each of the wall edges 40. Each bearing 44 defines a triangularly shaped opening 46, the apices 50 of which are directed toward the center of the block faces 30, 32 and 34 respectively.

A number of parallel shafts 52 areprovided interiorly of the frame and are supported by sidewalls l6 and partitions 22. The shafts are disposed below the upper surface 24 of the grid and pivotally support the blocks so that, in a position of rest, only one face surface of each block is exposed and oriented in a horizontal position so as to be parallel with the top surface of the frame. More particularly, when carried on shaft 52, each block attains a rest position such that the shaft occupies the uppermost apex due to the location of the center of gravity of the block below this upper apex. Thus, the blocks are always suspended in a restposition such that a face is substantially horizontal and parallel to the top surface 24 of the grid.

Each of the blocks 12 include a stop member in the form of a pin 54 which extends laterally outwardly from one of the sidewalls, pin 54 cooperates with the underside of the grid to prevent movement of the block through an are greater than 240. The pin is located inwardly adjacent the intersection of the two faces which bar the scoring indicia X and 0, namely faces 30 and 32, so as to allow each of said faces to attain a parallel position relative to the grid surface. With the pinlocated between the two indicia bearing faces, as seen in FIG. 3, it is oriented at its lower most position when the generally blank face 34 of the block is exposed.

From an initial position, with the face 34 exposed, pin 54 prevents rotation of the block in either direction greater than I20". It should also be noted that rotation of the block in each direction from its initial position will expose one or the other of the X and O indicia bearing faces.

Cross 38 and dot 36 disposed on face 34 of the block indicate that pivotal movement of the block due to application of a force along the edge adjacent these indicia will cause a similar scoring indicia to appear in an opening 26. For instance, as seen in FIG. 4, a force applied to-face 34 adjacent the edge of dot 36 will effect counterclockwise movement of the block, as viewed from the left, through an arc of 120 and will cause 0" indicia 31 to become exposed on the upper block face. On the other hand, by applying a force to face 34 adjacent the edge of cross or X" 38, the block will be pivoted clockwise, causing face 34 hearing the X" indicia to appear.

Finally, in the described embodiment, the game apparatus includes projectiles 14, which may comprise a plurality of cloth bags 60 which are stitched or otherwise closed and contain a pelletlike material such as metal shot, or beans. The bags are sized to contain an adequate quantity-of material so that when skillfully thrown at the blocks, each bag is sufficiently heavy to exert enough force to turn a block.

In the play of the game, each of two game players, or teams of game players, are positioned equally distant from frame either on the same side or on opposite sides thereof, preferably perpendicular to the orientation of shafts 52. The blocks are initially turned manually so that neutral faces 34 are exposed and the players alternately toss or cast projectiles 14 toward the apparatus and attempt to turn the blocks 120 in the proper direction so that their previously chosen indicia is turned face up. As is well known in the play of the game, the first player to successfully obtain an indicia line of three X"s or three O"s, either in a column, a row, or on a diagonal is deemed the winner.

The game is a variant of the game of tic-tac-toe since a game player may cancel or neutralize a previously exposed indicia of an opponent, by correctly striking the particularblock to return it to its neutral position. With sufficient skill a player may even turn a block 240 so that where an opponents indicia previously occupied an opening 26, the players indicia now occupies that opening. Furthermore, a players inaccuracy may cause cancellation of an opponents indicia. For example, if a player who desires the O cipher indicia aims at block 64 (FIG. 1) and misses by overshooting his mark, he may turn an opponent's X" indicia on block 66 so as to cancel the opponents indicia.

It is obvious that upon study by those skilled in the art, the disclosed invention may be altered or modified without departing from its inventive concept.

We claim:

1. Game apparatus comprising a frame structure, a plurality of blocks arranged in a number of parallel rows and each block having a plurality of substantially flat faces with at least one of said faces bearing scoring indicia thereon, means pivotally mounting said blocks in said frame for movement relative thereto such that in a position of rest only one face of each block is exposed to view, each of said blocks having three faces joined at their edges to form equilateral triangles and provided with end walls, and each block includes a pin extending outwardly from one of said end walls, projectile means suitable for being directed at any one of said blocks to cause pivotal movement thereof and render a different block face exposed to view, and said pin being engageable with a portion of said frame structure to thereby prevent additional movement of a block in a given direction subsequent to rotation of the block in response to being struck by said projectile means.

2. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blocks are arranged in a network of three rows of three blocks each, each block has a first face bearing a cipher indicia and a second face bearing a cross indicia, and wherein said projectiles comprise a flexible bag filled with discrete particles.

3. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pin extends from said end wall of each block at a position adjacent the intersection of the face bearing the cipher indicia and the face bearing the cross indicia. 

1. Game apparatus comprising a frame structure, a plurality of blocks arranged in a number of parallel rows and each block having a plurality of substantially flat faces with at least one of said faces bearing scoring indicia thereon, means pivotally mounting said blocks in said frame for movement relative thereto such that in a position of rest only one face of each block is exposed tO view, each of said blocks having three faces joined at their edges to form equilateral triangles and provided with end walls, and each block includes a pin extending outwardly from one of said end walls, projectile means suitable for being directed at any one of said blocks to cause pivotal movement thereof and render a different block face exposed to view, and said pin being engageable with a portion of said frame structure to thereby prevent additional movement of a block in a given direction subsequent to rotation of the block in response to being struck by said projectile means.
 2. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said blocks are arranged in a network of three rows of three blocks each, each block has a first face bearing a cipher indicia and a second face bearing a cross indicia, and wherein said projectiles comprise a flexible bag filled with discrete particles.
 3. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pin extends from said end wall of each block at a position adjacent the intersection of the face bearing the cipher indicia and the face bearing the cross indicia. 